Anaesthetist Drunk During A Delivery! Surely Her/ His Colleagues Knew?

[piggynose]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/alcoholic-anaesthetists-error-that-killed-briton-unforgivable-court-told/ar-BB19RC7x?li=AAnZ9Ug&ocid=mailsignout

[Mamyalynne]

None of her references were checked and she was allowed to be appointed such an important role, shameful.

[jno]

as for her colleagues, I don't know. Drunk drivers often drove very slowly and carefully. In some ways, that's how you can spot them. But if an anaesthtist was apparently working slowly and carefully, would you see that as a sign of drunkenness?

[dannyk13]

A maximum of three years is far too short a sentence for the taking of a life,

[Sqad]

Drunk ??. what does that mean? If the doctor had slurred speech, was acting and speaking in an incoherent manner and staggering,then yes her colleagues would have complained and she would have been suspended for further investigation. Unfortunately alcoholics are more subtle than that and can hide their addiction from their colleagues and even from their families, it is often difficult to pick up.
What references were checked and how thoroughly I have ni idea.
This unfortunate patient died because a breathing tube was placed down the wrong passage and was starved of oxygen before it was recognised and the subsequent treatment was inadequate. Would that of happened in a sober doctor? It might and it has done in the past and will do again in the future.
My sympathis are with all involved including the anaesthetist.

[Peter Pedant]

France by the way

Here in london - during Covid I the juniors were being trained up for ITU and the trainer said excitedly - "and we will teach you how to intubate if you want" ( tube darn the lungs and connect to ventilator) - that would be tube in the right place

and the whole cohort fled the room screaming "no no we have patients to see and prescriptions to write!"

very very bad things happen if you get anaesthesia wrong which doesnt really happen if you make a prescription mistake or see the wrong patient

this has taken a very long time to reach court

oxygen v v important - and which president needs supplemental oxygen for a normal mental state - I leave you to guess

[Peter Pedant]

anyone for French O level?

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/proces-de-l-anesthesiste-d-orthez-helga-wauters-choisit-de-garder-le-silence-1602152527

you knew I would do this
she has taken the fifth ( yes yes I know that is America - just about every legal system has rights not to self-incriminate )

[Ellipsis]

Here's another bad one in today's news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-54468137

Criminal charges may follow ...

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I didnt think there was a criminal charge they said
" giving a totally crap service and killing a lickle baby"

I thought - which statute is that? - - - - because
the trusts successfully lobbied the govt NOT to be included in the corporate manslaughter legislation - so they are free of that one

[their overwhelming argument was "oh we cant be made liable - trust board members may go to PRIIIIISOOON !" - the then minister "yeah OK then"]
good huh?

[Peter Pedant]

// A maximum of three years is far too short a sentence for the taking of a life,//

the Napoleonic legal systems dont really have gross negligence manslaughter
homicide involontaire - France
homocidio doloso thpain

and you know - it is different.
and we dont have an equivalent of "whoopsie killing" see above
and we dont have premeditated killing ( = assassinat)

[more money as the case arises for extradition lawyers: the crimes in the two countries have to be four-square and not "this almost does it"]

[eve1974]

Unfortunately many (not all) consultants rule by fear. Any underling that dared question his sobriety may have been given the short shrift. Also I think often in theatres the anaesthetist is the quiet one doing (the most important!) job in the background. Whilst the surgical team are the ones talking n communicating. Therefore unless he was stumbling all
Over the place it may not have been noticed.

Very very sad all round!

[Tilly2]

A dreadful situation for all involved.

[Barmaid]

It is entirely possible her colleagues would not have known. Vodka doesn't smell on the breath too much, the wearing of masks, plus if she had been like this for a while they may not have noticed.

That poor family. So very sad.

[Cloverjo]

Very sad for all concerned. It sounds like the anaesthetist wasn’t blotto, but drank enough vodka in her water to keep alcohol withdrawal at bay. Easy for colleagues to miss something like that.

[eve1974]

Yes - without detracting even one iota from the family’s pain I do ALSO feel for the anaesthetist.

Alcoholism is indeed a disease (I know many won’t agree) and as a dr she must’ve entered the profession wanting to save lives not take them.

What a waste of a precious life (the lady that died) but also a drS career who In diff circumstances prob saved many people